St Petersburg , Russia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Most artistic directors ' first day leading a new ballet company is all about meeting the dancers . But for Nacho Duato it 's a challenge just to find the rehearsal room .

The mazelike corridors of the magnificent Mikhailovsky Theatre in St Petersburg prove confusing and inspire a few unchoregraphed twists and turns from Duato before he finally identifies the right room and his new company -- the 140 dancers of the Mikhailovsky Ballet .

It 's unlikely the theater 's floor plan will be the last challenge for the Spanish choreographer who , this month , took over leadership of the company .

He 's the first foreigner to lead a Russian ballet company in over a century and has been charged with bringing modern choreography to the Mikhailovsky 's classical repertoire .

`` Having a look at the past but always stepping forward and stepping into the future ... this is what I think they want and that is why I think they called me , '' said Duato . `` I think they have it pretty clear that they want to change ; that they want something new . ''

A modern ballet dancer and choreographer with an international pedigree , it is hoped he can revitalize the ballet for Russian audiences . While performances at the Mikhailovsky are well attended , there 's a growing concern that Russians may become tired of seeing the standard repertoire of classical ballets .

`` Russians love ballet . That goes without saying , but the attitude that exists towards Russian ballet in the West is more passionate , '' said Vladimir Kekhman , billionaire fruit importer and General Director of the Mikhailovsky Theatre .

`` I would like that within Russia we would have the same attitude because as we say ` We do n't treat what we have until it 's gone . ' I consider ballet to be a national treasure , '' he added .

Kekhman is a relatively recent convert to ballet but he has become something of a cultural entrepreneur , investing $ 45 million of his own money to restore the Mikhailovsky 's buildings and , hopefully , its reputation .

Kekhman required fresh talent to oversee his vision and for that , he says , he had to look beyond Russia .

`` I looked within our industry to see who were considered living legends of choreography , and when I looked within Russia , I realized that we did n't have choreographers who had the ability to not just choreograph , but also head the company , '' he said .

He approached Duato , a non-Russian speaker , who has spent the last 20 years choreographing new works as Artistic Director of the Spanish National Dance Company .

At first Duato was reluctant to change direction towards classical ballet . But then Mikhailovsky offered him the chance to bring modern choreography to a classical ballet company and it proved an offer too enticing to pass up .

`` I know many people who think he 's -LRB- Kekhman -RRB- crazy , that I 'm crazy and that this is never going to work , '' said Duato . `` That this mixture is just like a bomb , an atomic bomb . But he made me feel that ` Let 's try , let 's do it . Why not ? Maybe we can do it . ' ''

Bringing a modern approach to ballet in Russia , where it 's ingrained in the culture might daunt some , but it 's a task Duato is relishing .

`` It 's not a pressure . It 's a pleasure . It really is a pleasure to be in a place where ballet -LRB- has been -RRB- part of the cultural tradition for -LRB- such a -RRB- long time , and at the same time they want to break through and do new things , '' Duato said .

Duato has set himself a challenging schedule , hand-picking three dancers to create a ballet so new it does n't even have a name yet . They have just weeks before the world premiere .

Principal dancer Ekaterina Borchenko is the jewel in the Mikhailovsky 's Imperial crown . The company 's star ballerina has danced the principal roles in productions of classical ballets including `` Swan Lake , '' `` Giselle '' and `` La Sylphide . ''

Now , she 's relishing the chance to stretch her skills . `` In this repertoire , I can show a different side of myself , express myself differently and find something new in me , '' she said .

Opening night will be a litmus test of just how receptive Russians are to this new direction .

Duato believes ballet is a living organism , which needs to evolve constantly in order to keep the audience interested . It 's a philosophy he shares with Kekhman .

`` Together we are going to work into something , '' said Duato . `` We do n't know how it 's going to be but I think it 's going to be beautiful . If we put all our hearts and soul into it , it 's going to be something fantastic . ''

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Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato is the new artistic director at the Mikhailovksy Ballet

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He 's the first non-Russian to take up such a post in over a century

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The company is trying modernize ballet for Russian audiences

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Duato has just weeks to get his new ballet ready before the world premiere